Power actuated drapery traverse employing movable racks



J. G. TRAPP June 20, 1967 POWER ACTUATED DRAPERY TRAVERSE EMPLOYING MOVABLE RACKS Filed March 18, 1965 INVENTOR. J46! 6. 7764/8 United States Patent M 3,327,194 POWER ACTUATED DRAPERY TRAVERSE EMPLOYING MOVABLE RACKS Jack G. Trapp, R0. Box 729, Lancaster, Calif. 93534 Filed Mar. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 440,707 4 Claims. (Cl. 318-282) This invention relates to a power actuated traverse for curtains or drapes and is characterized 'by the fact that a single electric motor drives a pinion engaging upper and lower racks which'carry the traverses s-o mounted as to be driven in opposite directions upon energizing the motor.

The invention includes manual means for energizing the motor and alternatively remote control electronic means by which the traverse can be controlled.

The invention is characterized by its simplicity, there being only three moving parts.

' These and other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the annexed specification in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective elevation with parts broken away for clarity of illustration of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a section taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective elevation of the driving head;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary elevation in perspective of the upper traverse;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective elevation of the lower traverse;

FIGURE 7 is a schematic illustration of a portable transmitter unit which may be used to operate the traverse;

FIGURE 8 is a schematic representation of a receiving circuit for the transmitted wave used in energizing the motor, and FIGURE 8 also includes a generalized motor reversing system; and

FIGURE 9 is another schematic diagram of circuitry which incorporates the two microswitches of FIGURE 3, each having a delay action.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, an elongated box-like structure 10 is provided having a slot 11 running the full length thereof. A housing 12 is attached to the rear side of the structure 10 and houses a reversible electric motor 13 on the output shaft 14 of which is mounted a circular gear 15. Mounted in a subcasing 16 attached to housing 12 is a driving head 17 best shown in FIGURE 4 constituting a substantially rectangular block having a circular opening 18 and a T- shaped slot 19 running completely through the block. Mounted to travel in the member 10 are a pair of racks, a lower rack 20 and an upper rack 21. The lower rack 20 engages the under side of the gear and the upper rack 21 engages the upper side of the gear 15 with the result that when the electric motor 13 is energized the racks and 21 are driven in opposite directions. A horizontal support 21a runs the full length of the boxlike structure 10 and forms a support for the two racks 20 and 21. Attached to the rack 20 by a block 22 is a plate 23 having a hole 24 therein. The hole 24 is for the purpose of receiving a curtain ring. Block 22 is a shape and form to extend through the slot 11 and ride therein.

Similarly, attached to the rack 21 by a block 25 is a plate 26 having a hole 27 therein for similar purpose. The block 25 is of a shape and size to extend through and ride in slot 11, but to space the plate 26 inwardly of the plate 23 so that the two may overlap as shown in FIGURE 1 to completely close the curtains. Mounted 3 ,327,194 Patented June 20, 1967 in the housing 12 is a microswitch 29 and a second microswitch 30. A leafspring 31 presses a rod 32 outwardly into contact with the edge of rack 20 and a similar leafspring 33 presses a rod 34 outwardly into contact with the edge of the rack 21. A pair of recessed portions or depressions 35 and 36 are formed respectively in the edges of the racks 20 and 21 to be engaged by the pointed end of the rods 32 and 34. When the rods 32 and 34 are pushed out of the depressions 35 and 36 they operate the microswitches 29 and 30 for the purpose hereinafter to be described.

The electrical means for operating the traverse is described in connection with FIGURES 7, 8 and 9.

The traverse may be operated from a remote location by energizing the transmitter in FIGURE 7 which radiates energy to the receiving circuit shown in FIGURE 8 whereby the reversible motor 13 is energized. Alternatively, the motor 13 may be energized by manual operation of a switch 70. The elements of the receiving circuit illustrated in FIGURE 9 are housed within housing 12 with the antenna 71 thereof projecting from the housing 12 and with the switch 70 located at a conveniently accessible place for convenient manual operation.

The transmitter of FIGURE 7 may be mounted in a small portable housing 73 with its antenna 74 projecting therefrom and with its on-off switch mounted for convenient manual operation on housing 73.

The transmitter unit includes a transistor 37 connected as a part of an oscillator circuit with the collector electrode of transistor 37 being directly connected to the antenna 74. A small battery 38 has one of its terminals connected to the collector electrode of transistor 37 through a coil 39, the coil 39 being shunted by a series circuit which includes the capacitors 40, 41 and 42 which provide a circuit resonant with coil 39 at the transmitting frequency. The other terminal of battery 38 is connected to the base electrode of transistor 37 through the switch 75 and resistance 44, this resistance 44 being shunted by a capacitor 45. A resistance 46 interconnects the first-mentioned terminal of battery 38 to the base electrode of transistor 37. The base and emitter electrodes are interconnected through resistance 47 and the previously mentioned resistance 44, the resistance 47 being shunted by the previously mentioned capacitor 41. It will be seen that upon closing the switch 75, a signal is radiated by antenna 74 and of a frequency determined substantially by the tuned circuit comprising coil 39 and capacitors 40, 41 and 42.

This signal thus radiated is received by the receiver antenna 71 and serves to trigger a thyratron tube 50- to thereby energize the coil 51 of a relay 52 having a normally open switch 53. For these purposes the cathode of tube 50 is connected to the antenna 71 and also to one terminal of a coil 55 and one terminal of a capacitor 56. The anode electrode of tube 50 is connected through coil 51 to the other terminal of capacitor 56, such other terminal of capacitor 56 being connected to the other terminal of coil 55 through a series circuit which includes the resistances 58 and 59, the junction point of which is connected to the control electrode of tube 50. An A.C. source 60 is connected in a series circuit with the tube 50 through coil 55 and relay coil 51 so that when tube 50 is rendered conductive, the coil 51 is energized and the relay 52 is operated. The receiving circuit is thus tuned to the same frequency as the transmitting frequency as established by the values of conductance of coil 55 and the capacitance of capacitor 56.

The AC. source 61) is used also to energize the reversible motor 13 which is illustrated as having a center tapped winding 62, one section thereof being energized for one direction of motor rotation and the other section being energized for rotation of the motor in the opposite direction. As illustrated, the center tap of winding 62 is connected to the stationary terminals of relay switch 53 and manually operable switch 70, the movable elements of these switches being connected to one terminal of source 60 having its other terminal connected to the movable element of a single-pole double-throw switch 65, the switch 65 having its stationary contacts connected to corresponding outside terminals of winding 62.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various means may be used to operate the switch 65 in accordance with the position of the racks 2t and 21 such that in the fully extended position of the racks 20 and 21 the switch 65 is operated to one of its conditions, and in the fully retracted position of the racks 20 and 21 the switch 65 is operated to the other one of its conditions to thereby effect reversal of motor 13 at extreme ends of travel of the racks 20 and 21. Thus, for example, the switch 65 serves essentially as a limit switch and may have the actuating element thereof operated by, for example, spaced projections on either rack 20 or. rack 21.

Preferably, as illustrated in FIGURE 3, the microswitches 29 and 30 are provided and may be connected in the circuit illustrated in FIGURE 9. The switches 29 and 30 are illustrated as normally closed switches, i.e., these switches are closed when the corresponding rods 32 and 34 ride on the upper portion of corresponding racks 20 and 21, with the corresponding switches 29 and 30 being opened when the corresponding rod 32 and .34 enters its corresponding depression 35 and 36. The motor 13 in this case is of the character which incorporates means whereby its direction of rotation is reversed upon opening and closing of either switch 29 or 30, as the case may be. The motor 13, as illustrated, is connected in a series circuit with the source 60, the relay switch 53, the microswitch 29 and microswitch 30; and, as described previously in connection with FIGURE 8, the manually operable switch 70 is connected with respect to switch 53 to effect local control without the use of transmitter.

In operation the operator closes either the transmitter switch 35 or the switch 70 to elfect movement of the traverse to further open or close the drapes hung thereon. At each end of travel of the traverse, the direction of rotation of the motor is automatically reversed by operation of switch 65 in FIGURE 8 or by opening and closing of either switch '29, 30 at extreme ends of travel. In FIGURE 9 such reversal may also be effected by opening and closing of either switch 53 or 70 without the necessity v of the rods being moved to their extreme limit of travel,

i.e., without requiring the operation of switches 29 or 30.

Using a pair of microswitches 29 and 30, as described in connection with FIGURES 3 and 9, one rack 20 may be suitably notched at 35 to establish the extent of closing of the traverse and the other rack' 21 is suitably notched at 36 to establish the extent of opening of the traverse. Thus, different rack travels may be provided for different installations by choice of individual racks notched correspondingly.

While there has been described what is at present considered a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention and it is intended to cover herein all such changes and modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

1. In a curtain traverse arrangement, an elongated'supporting structure, a pair of generally T-shaped racks each having a first base portion and a second integrally formed portion extending perpendicularly therefrom, said base portion of each rack being slidably mounted in said sup porting structure, a rack bearing block on said structure and having a generally I-shaped opening through which both of said racks extend for maintaining the extremities of said second portions in spaced relation, said extremities each having a rack tooth, a gear extending into said bearing block and meshing with the teeth on each of said racks, a motor on said structure for driving said gear, and switch means mounted on said structure and controlling said motor in response to the position of said racks.

2. An arrangement as set forth in claim 1 in which said switch means includes a switch actuating element enterable into a notched portion of one of said racks.

3. An arrangement as set forth in claim 2 in which said' notched portion is in the elongated edge of said first portion of said one rack.

4. An arrangement as set forth in claim 1 in which said switch means includes a pair of switches each having a switch actuating element enterable into a notched portion in a corresponding one of said racks.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 627,968 7/1899 Benbow 74-30 X 2,788,481 4/1957 Lui et a1. 318267 3,003,552 10/1961 Eilenberger -331 3,136,358 6/1964 Madsen 160331 3,153,181 10/1964 Black 318286 BENJAMIN DOBECK, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A CURTAIN TRAVERSE ARRANGEMENT, AN ELONGATED SUPPORTING STRUCTURE, A PAIR OF GENERALLY T-SHAPED RACKS EACH HAVING A FIRST BASE PORTION AND A SECOND INTEGRALLY FORMED PORTION EXTENDING PERPENDICULARLY THEREFROM, SAID BASE PORTION OF EACH RACK BEING SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID SUPPORTING STRUCTURE, A RACK BEARING BLOCK ON SAID STRUCTURE AND HAVING A GENERALLY I-SHAPED OPENING THROUGH WHICH BOTH OF SAID RACKS EXTEND FOR MAINTAINING THE EXTREMITIES OF SAID SECOND PORTIONS IN SPACED RELATION, SAID EXTREMITIES EACH HAVING A RACK TOOTH, A GEAR EXTENDING INTO SAID BEARING BLOCK AND MESHING WITH THE TEETH ON EACH OF SAID RACKS, A MOTOR ON SAID STRUCTURE FOR DRIVING SAID GEAR, AND SWITCH MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID STRUCTURE AND CONTROLLING SAID MOTOR IN RESPONSE TO THE POSITION OF SAID RACKS. 